Maj Gen SK Sharma (Retd)
To preserve culture of a region, it is very important to teach its salient features to children in schools, colleges and universities. This aspect has been realized in many states in the country and they opened up the university of culture in their region. A few of these are:
* Majuli University of Culture, Majuli, Assam
* Manipur University of Culture, Imphal, Manipur
* Utkal University of Culture, Bhubaneswar, Orrisa
Establishing a University of Culture promotes traditions and rich values of a region. The very important feature of a culture is its language through which it gets passed on from current generation to the next generation.
Scene at Global Level
As per UNESCO’s Atlas of World’s Languages, published in 2011, there are around 7,000 major languages out of which roughly 4,000 languages including 197 in India, are in the endangered list. Out of these endangered languages, one language is dying every fortnight making the associated culture extinct thus the world losing the complete knowledge and traditionsof that culture.
Even when a culture comes in the endangered list, it is generally seen that there is an inherent fight between that culture and the dominant culture thus disturbing global peace. UNESCO has been adopting many methods to restore global peace by promoting development of each culture in the world. There are already two universities at the global level which promote peace and encourage cultural bonhomie. These are:
* UNU (UN University) which focuses on peacekeeping, conflict resolution, human rights and sustainable development
* UN University of Global Peace
To give boost to the local languages and cultures,UNO is going to include Culture as one of its Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) post 2030. A few of the actions already initiated by them are by declaring:
* 21st February as the International Mother Language Day
* Year 2019 as the International Year of Indigenous Languages
* Decade 2022-2032 as the Decade of the International Languages
Cultural Scene in J&K
If we have a look at J&K, there are many languages and cultures which are dwelling here. These are Kashmiri, Dogri, Gojri, Pahari, Badharwahi etc. However, the main two cultures in J&K are the Kashmiri and Dogra cultures and their languages viz. Kashmiri and Dogri are part of the 8th Schedule of the Constitution of India thus according both of these the national status. Besides, these are the only two native languages which are also the official languages of the Union Territory of J&K.
All India Council of Technical Education (AICTE), to promote local languages, grants Rs. 2 Lakh for conducting a workshop/seminar/conference in Dogri/Kashmiri under its scheme VAANI. Similarly UGC under its scheme ASMITA provides financial assistance to write/ translate any technical material in Dogri/Kashmiri
It is heartening to see that this year, Model Institute of Engineering and Technology (Autonomous), Jammu,applied and got a grant or Rs. 2 Lakh to conduct a seminar in Dogri language on the latest technical topic “Artificial Intelligence and Data Science”. Other reputed universities and colleges must also follow the suit and enrich the knowledge base of Dogri/Kashmiri.
However, the Dogra community is not happy at all as can be seen from many articles figuring in prominent newspapers of J&K. Articles with titles Is Dogra Culture Dying Slowly (Daily Excelsior 15 Feb 2024),Is death of Dogra Culture Imminent?(Daily Excelsior, 10 Aug 2024),After 70 years of Independence, the Dogras of Jammu are Facing an Identity Crisis (Hindustan Times, New Delhi, 01 Mar 2025), Is J&K promoting Arabic and Iranian Cultures (at the cost of Dogra Culture, Daily Excelsior 26 Nov 2024), Are Schools in Jammu Not to Implement NEP 2020 (and not teach Dogri, Daily Excelsior 10 Apr 2024) etc. are a few examples.
To promote these cultures, Universities in this region are to take the responsibility.
State/UT Universities in Jammu Province
Within the province of Jammu, there are 5 State/UT universities. These are:
* Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology (SKUAST)
* Baba Ghulam Shah Badshah University (BGSBU)
* Shri Mata Vaishno Devi University (SMVDU)
* University of Jammu (JU)
* Cluster University of Jammu (CLUJ)
First University, SKUAST, is named after Sheikh Mohd Abdullah, popularly known as Sher-e-Kashmir. He was the founding President of All J&K Muslim Conference who never wanted Dogras to control Kashmir and started Quit Kashmir Movement in 1946 and was arrested. As J&K joined Indian Union in 1947, the central leadership made him Prime Minister of J&K, though dismissed later in 1953and again arrested. Public feeling was that he was engaged in anti-national activities and a conspiracy against the state, though official version was different.
This university does not teach any subject of local culture but cover the subjects related to agriculture and science.
Second University of Jammu region is BGSBU named after Baba Ghulam Shah Badshah, a Sufi saint whose forefathers belonged to Iran. His grandfather migrated to Rawalpindi region (now in Pakistan) to spread Islam in 16th century. Later, in 1765, Baba Ghulam Shah Badshah shifted to Shahdara Sharief in Rajouri district and stayed till 1806.
Best part is of this university is that it teaches about culture. It conducts M.A/B.A(Hon’s) degrees for Pahari as well as in Gojri languages. Besides, it also teaches Islamic Studies and promotes foreign cultures by conducting M.A degree programs in Persian (language of Iran) and Arabic (language of Arab countries). It has established a Center for Research in Pahari, Gojri and Kashmiri languagesand conducts M.A/B.A(Hon’s) degrees programs in these languages including Kashmiri language.
Dogra senior citizens at Jammu have pointed a number of times about neglect of Dogri by this university and they say:
“BGSBU focuses on all the cultures of J&K including Kashmiri culture but excluded Dogri from its syllabus. The subject of Dogri, which is the second widely spoken native language is neither taught nor any degree is offered; even though classes are conducted for MA/BA in Kashmiri language.”
University officials should either clarify this aspect or start Dogri program in their university or satisfy the Dogras of Jammu.
Third university is SMVDU which is established from the donations received from Hindus at the shrine of Shri Mata Vaishno Devi. It was informed by their officials that neither any Dogri professor is posted nor the subject of Dogri taught. Even there is no subject on Hinduism Studies or Snatan subject in this university, though it is run from donations from Hindus.
Fourth university, JU, was formed when J&K University was split in to Kashmir University and Jammu University. This university has started a PG dept in Dogri. It controls around 180 colleges of Jammu province but not made the subject of Dogri compulsory in all its colleges.
Fifth university is CLUJ which controls 5 main colleges of Jammu. There is no PG Dogri program here. Even the College of Education which is the only govt. in Jammu region does nothave even a Dogri professor and does not teach the subject of “Practice in Dogri Teaching”
However, the current Vice Chancellor feels that Dogra culture can be saved if it is taught to students. He is very enthusiastic and plans to start programmes in that direction.
Recommendations
To save the Dogra culture and connect students with their roots, the Senior Citizens Club Chowadi, Jammu has the following suggestions for the govt. of J&K and the Higher Education Dept.:
* A University of Dogra Culture be set up in Jammu region
OR
CLUJ or JU be renamed as University of Dogra Culture or University of Culture
* All the universities in Jammu region must make the Subject of Dogri compulsory in all the colleges
* The only Govt. college of Education which produces future teachers for schools must teach the Dogri subject to its students.
* SMVDU, BGSBU and CLUJ,which are in the Jammu , must teach a subject of Dogri language as a compulsory subject to all its students
* A subject on Hinduism Studies or SnatanaDharma be introduced and be made as a compulsory subject in SMVDU and its College of Nursing.
(The author is Former Member, Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board)
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